ABBowers Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 We are doing our annual competencies and this month's competency is on DATs. The question that has come up is whether or not a cell washer's finals wash and spin constitutes a dry cell button or if you still have to blot the tube. Most of the techs (and I am one) just take the tubes out and use them as is. What do any of you do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcurrie Posted June 23, 2007 Share Posted June 23, 2007 I am a blotter now. I used to take that final spin decantation as good enough until I missed a weakly positive DAT (C3d) on a CAP survey a few years ago ;-)BC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabel Adams Posted June 23, 2007 Share Posted June 23, 2007 We don't blot and haven't failed any surveys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John C. Staley Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 I'm with Mabel. Our cell washer produces a dry enough button. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcurrie Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 I find the amount of saline remaining in my Sorvalls after the last wash rather disturbing. I tried calibrating a harder and longer spin, but that didn't make any noticeable difference. This isn't a big issue since we do most of our testing (DAT's included) in gel. Whenever a cell washer goes in for maintenance it isn't even missed.BC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OPUS104 Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 Non-blotter, no prob. on CAP or in-house comp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabel Adams Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 On our Dade DAC II the saline residual can actually be set. Otherwise I am not overly fond of the instrument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcurrie Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 The first automated cell washer I ever used was the Dac II. The one thing I don't like about the Sorvalls is the pinch valve to adjust the saline. BC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Olsen Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 We do not blot our DAT's. We have not had any issues. I preferred the DAC II to the Sorvall's we have now. Just a personal preference. I agree - the pinch valves are a pain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy Smietana Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 We have Sorval Cell Washers, do not blot and have not had any problems with CAP proficiencies or internal proficiencies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabel Adams Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 I am wishing I had kept the nifty device from our old Sorval tubing that I used instead of the pinch valve. It was a barrel shaped thing that you twisted to increase or decrease saline volume. It was standard on Sorval cellwashers 25+ years ago, I think. I should go dig around in storage for it now that I know it is valuable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcurrie Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 That's what we use, Mabel, but it is still basically a pinch valve- just a rotary pinch valve. I have never figured it out. One time I can twist the valve 4 or 5 rotations and only change the amount of saline dispensed by 1 or 2 mL, the next time all I have to do is thump it and it increases the output 10 mL. One time rotating it clockwise might increase the output, the next time clockwise decreases the output. Makes you want to go back to handwashing with a rubber band to hold the tubes in the rotor.BC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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